air fryer Greek Stifado recipes

Greek Stifado is a traditional, slow-cooked beef stew, typically requiring a long simmer in the oven or a slow cooker to make the meat fork-tender and the sauce rich.¹

There are no specific, widely available recipes for cooking the entire Stifado in a standard air fryer basket, as the air fryer is generally not suited for long-simmering stews due to its dry, circulating heat and small capacity.

However, you might be able to adapt a Stifado recipe for an Air Fryer Oven (which often has a slow cook or bake function) or use your air fryer for certain steps:

General Stifado Recipe Components (Adaptable

A traditional Stifado includes:

• Stewing Beef (chuck or shin), cut into large chunks.²
• A generous amount of small onions (pearl onions or shallots), often left whole.³
• A rich sauce made with red wine, tomato puree/diced tomatoes, and red wine vinegar.⁴
• Warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and bay leaves.⁵

How you might adapt it for an Air Fryer (or Air Fryer Oven):

1. Browning the Beef (Air Fryer – Traditional Basket/Drawer):
   • You can use the air fryer to brown your beef chunks quickly before assembling the stew.
   • Method: Toss the beef chunks with a little oil, salt, and pepper. Air fry at a high temperature (around $400^\circ\text{F}$ or $200^\circ\text{C}$) for about 5-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway, just until the outside is browned. You’ll likely need to work in batches.
2. Sautéing the Aromatics (Stovetop Recommended):
   • The spices, garlic, and tomato paste are best sautéed in a pot on the stovetop to build the flavor base. The small, dry nature of the air fryer is not ideal for this step.
3. Slow Cooking/Baking the Stew (Air Fryer Oven or Dutch Oven):
   • If you have an Air Fryer Oven with a Dutch Oven/Pot capacity: You might be able to assemble the entire stew in a small oven-safe dish with a lid (like a Dutch oven or casserole dish that fits) and use the bake or slow cook setting at a low temperature (around $325^\circ\text{F}$ or $160^\circ\text{C}$) for 2-3 hours or until the meat is tender. Crucially, the stew must be covered to prevent the liquid from evaporating completely. You will need to check it and potentially add more liquid (water or stock) occasionally.⁶
   • If you have a standard Air Fryer (Basket/Drawer): It’s highly recommended to perform the long, slow cook in a traditional oven or slow cooker for the best results, as Stifado relies on a moist environment and long cooking time to tenderize the meat.

In summary: Use a traditional stovetop or oven recipe for Greek Stifado, but you can use your air fryer to efficiently brown the beef chunks before adding them to the stew pot for the long simmer.